399.1 Bhishma's Mandala array versus Yudishtra's Vajra array
Then at dawn when the sky was clear, the valiant Bhishma, that foremost of men well-versed in all kinds of array, himself disposed his troops in that array called Mandala bristling with weapons. And it abounded with foremost of warriors and with tuskers and footsoldiers. And it was surrounded on all sides with many thousands of cars, and with large bodies of horsemen armed with swords and lances. Near unto every elephant were placed seven cars, and near unto every car were placed seven horsemen. And behind every horseman were placed seven bowmen, and behind every bowman were seven combatants with shields. And thus, O king, thy army, arrayed by mighty car-warriors, stood for fierce battle, protected by Bhishma. And ten thousand horses, and as many elephants, and ten thousand cars, and thy sons, all equipped in mail, viz., the heroic Chitrasena and others, protected the grandsire. And it was seen that Bhishma was protected by those brave warriors, and those princes themselves of great strength, accoutred in mail, were (in their turn) protected by him.
And Duryodhana accoutred in mail sat upon his car on the field, and possessed of every grace, looked resplendent like Sakra himself in heaven. Then, O Bharata, loud were the shouts uttered by thy sons and deafening the clatter of cars and the uproar of musical instruments. That mighty and impenetrable array of those slayer of foes, viz., the Dhartarashtras (in the form called) Mandala, (thus) arrayed by Bhishma, began to proceed, facing the west. Incapable of being defeated by enemies, it looked beautiful in every point.
Beholding then the array called Mandala that was exceedingly fierce, king Yudhishthira himself disposed his troops in the array called Vajra. And when the divisions were thus arrayed, car-warriors and horsemen, stationed in their proper places, uttered leonine shouts. Accompanied by their respective forces, the brave warriors of both armies, well versed in smiting, and longing for battle, proceeded, desirous of breaking each other's array.
---And Bharadwaja's son proceeded against the king of the Matsyas,
---And his son (Aswatthaman) against Sikhandin.
---And king Duryodhana himself rushed against the son of Prishata.
---And Nakula and Sahadeva went forth against the king of the Madras.
---And Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti proceeded against Iravat.
---And many kings together battled with Dhananjaya.
---And Bhimasena,exerting himself well, opposed the son of Hridika in battle.
---And possessed of great prowess, (Abhimanyu) the son of Arjuna, fought in battle, O king, against the sons Chitrasena and Vikarna,and Durmarshana.
---And Hidimva's son, that prince of the Rakshasas, rushed against that mighty bowman, theruler of the Pragjyotishas, like one infuriate elephant against another.
---And the Rakshasa Alamvusha, O king, excited with wrath, rushed in battle against the invincible Satyaki in the midst of his followers.
---And Bhurisravas, exerting himself greatly, fought against Dhrishtaketu.
---And Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, proceeded against king Srutayush.
---And Chekitana in that battle fought against Kripa.
---And others (among the Kuru warriors), exerting themselves powerfully, proceeded against that mighty carwarrior Bhima.
---And thousands of (other) kings surrounded Dhananjaya, with darts, lances, arrows, maces, and spiked clubs in their hands.
And Duryodhana accoutred in mail sat upon his car on the field, and possessed of every grace, looked resplendent like Sakra himself in heaven. Then, O Bharata, loud were the shouts uttered by thy sons and deafening the clatter of cars and the uproar of musical instruments. That mighty and impenetrable array of those slayer of foes, viz., the Dhartarashtras (in the form called) Mandala, (thus) arrayed by Bhishma, began to proceed, facing the west. Incapable of being defeated by enemies, it looked beautiful in every point.
Beholding then the array called Mandala that was exceedingly fierce, king Yudhishthira himself disposed his troops in the array called Vajra. And when the divisions were thus arrayed, car-warriors and horsemen, stationed in their proper places, uttered leonine shouts. Accompanied by their respective forces, the brave warriors of both armies, well versed in smiting, and longing for battle, proceeded, desirous of breaking each other's array.
---And Bharadwaja's son proceeded against the king of the Matsyas,
---And his son (Aswatthaman) against Sikhandin.
---And king Duryodhana himself rushed against the son of Prishata.
---And Nakula and Sahadeva went forth against the king of the Madras.
---And Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti proceeded against Iravat.
---And many kings together battled with Dhananjaya.
---And Bhimasena,exerting himself well, opposed the son of Hridika in battle.
---And possessed of great prowess, (Abhimanyu) the son of Arjuna, fought in battle, O king, against the sons Chitrasena and Vikarna,and Durmarshana.
---And Hidimva's son, that prince of the Rakshasas, rushed against that mighty bowman, theruler of the Pragjyotishas, like one infuriate elephant against another.
---And the Rakshasa Alamvusha, O king, excited with wrath, rushed in battle against the invincible Satyaki in the midst of his followers.
---And Bhurisravas, exerting himself greatly, fought against Dhrishtaketu.
---And Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, proceeded against king Srutayush.
---And Chekitana in that battle fought against Kripa.
---And others (among the Kuru warriors), exerting themselves powerfully, proceeded against that mighty carwarrior Bhima.
---And thousands of (other) kings surrounded Dhananjaya, with darts, lances, arrows, maces, and spiked clubs in their hands.